“Freedom means being able to live and travel wherever I want. Nearly 60 years ago a 12-year-old African American boy like me (my grandpa) did not have that privilege. Thankfully, that is not the case for me today,” Carter said in his essay.

The second grand prize winner was Kieran Thomas, also a student at Carmel Middle School.

“To me, freedom is the right to be me, the right to exercise all my own beliefs and aspirations. Countless brave citizens of America have given their service to obtain these rights…Wars were fought to preserve our precious freedom,” Kieran said in his essay.

The third grand prize winner was Dexter King, a student at St. Richards Episcopal School in Indianapolis.

“This gift of freedom can be used to make decisions that affect who we are and how we treat other people. Freedom to me is to be able to make your own choices,” Dexter said in his essay.

For the past 30 years the Sertoma Club of Broad Ripple has sponsored this essay contest. More than 1,100 essays were submitted this year, and the club awarded 58 cash prizes in all.

Carter received $375 for first place, Kieran took home $250 and Dexter was awarded $200.